“Twenty-four hours with your loved one didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye, no matter what Palindromena promised. There was no closure. There never would be.”

What would you do if you could spend 24 hours with a lost loved one? The Vanishing Deep by bestselling author, Astrid Scholte, asks that question and then takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure as we explore the possibilities. A standalone novel, it is the story of Tempest Alerin. Tempest, or Tempe, is a seventeen-year-old girl living alone on a reef known as the Equinox. She spends her days diving the ocean dwelling wrecks of the old world looking for items to sell in an attempt to save enough money to allow her one last chance to speak to her sister Elysea who tragically died two years ago. On the island of Palindromena, there is a research facility that, for a hefty price, will grant you the chance to revive your loved one for 24 hours to allow you to say your final goodbyes. Tempe, however, has something else in mind. She isn’t looking for a family reunion, she wants answers that only Elysea can give her.

The Vanishing Deep is set in a scarily prophetic world where society as we know it has been destroyed and consumed by the Great Waves. This has created a dystopian water world where the remaining population lives on islands or strongly regulated reefs. The population on the reefs are monitored closely as life is now a temperamental balancing act. They have to deal with weight limits, overpopulation, and the related health issues of living with so much salt in the air. Tempe and her sister Elysea grew up on Equinox reef with their parents until their tragic death in a boating accident. With no adult care, the girls were forced to dive the sunken wrecks of the old world in an attempt to find a source of income. After her sister's death, Tempe is left alone to dive the seas in an attempt to survive, but also to search for the answers she desperately needs as Tempe’s sister died with a terrible secret and she needs to know the answer.

The old world wrecks are the remnants of our current world as we know it and while Scholte doesn't explain exactly how the Great Waves came to be, there is an overwhelming hint throughout the plot about the importance of sustainability and the need to care for our environment. The worldbuilding in this story is deep and effortless and the detailed description of the ocean, the wrecks and general life transports the reader into this water world. This is an ocean book like none other before it.

After Tempe finds a lucrative treasure, she finally has enough notes to buy her sisters temporary revival. The research facility on the nearby island of Palindromena is one of marvel and mystery. This is a facility with the technology to revive your loved one for 24 hours for a high cost, three thousand notes to be exact. The Vanishing Deep is told from dual point of views, which follows Tempe but are also introduced to Lor, a hermitted “employee” of Palindromena. Lor is an unlikely main character and is drawn into the action somewhat by accident. Lor doesn’t believe in the value of the revival process the facility provides and he knows this because he has experienced it first hand. Filled with grief for the death of his friend and his memory of the revival process, Lor knows how devastating the experience can be. When Tempe arrives on Palindromena ready to interrogate her sister, their paths cross and the adventure begins.

The two main characters are wonderfully crafted and compliment each other. Tempe is confident, fierce, and stubborn. She shares her feelings freely and is passionate about her beliefs. Lor on the other hand is the complete opposite. Shy, quiet, and hiding many secrets, Lor is the yin to Tempe’s yang. The addition of the secondary characters Elysea, Tempe’s sister, and Raylan, Lor’s only friend is used to balance the extreme personality traits of the main characters.

This adventure takes the characters on a fast-paced chase running against the clock. The 24 hour countdown is a thrilling plot point that keeps the story moving and the characters on their toes. Through this race against the clock, we learn some very important things about the characters: their passions, loves, compassion, and moral compass. Each chapter begins with a countdown clock and this makes the book a race for the reader as well. This book is a total page turner. In true Astrid Scholte fashion, this book is also filled with perfectly timed, multi-layered plot twists that are as gut wrenching as they are clever. The only downside of having a countdown clock built into a story's plot is that there is the pressure that events must end. The Vanishing Deep races to its conclusion and then ends somewhat abruptly and unexpectedly with a moderately happy ending.

The Vanishing Deep is an emotional rollercoaster dealing with death, sacrifice, and love. The theme of love is multifaceted and explored in so many different ways. Scholte’s writing style is beautiful and the story flows easily, taking the reader along for the ride rather than being simply an observer. The environmental theme resonates subtly throughout and the entire premise has left me wondering if I had the opportunity to speak to a lost loved one, would I take it?